OSCE PA President invites the speakers of Armenian and Azerbaijani Parliaments to direct discussions

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS: During the session of OSCE PA on July 9 of current year an Italian diplomat Ricardo Migliori was elected as President of OSCE PA. He gave his first interview in the new position to Armenpress:

Mr. President, after your election as the OSCE PA president you have declared the solution of protracted conflicts as your top priority. What are the first steps you are going to undertake to facilitate Nagorno-Karabakh conflict solution?

The OSCE, with its comprehensive security concept and wide membership is the best possible international forum for assisting in findingsolutions to the protracted conflicts.The Irish Chairmanship of the OSCE has conflict solutions as one of its main priorities for this year, and as President of the OSCE PA, I will do my utmost to contribute to the ongoing processes, including the OSCE Minsk Group, the main instrument handling this conflict.

I strongly believe that establishing a continuing dialogue at the parliamentary level can contribute to solutions, and I intend to invite the Speakers of the two parliaments to come to one of the forthcoming OSCE PA’s meetings and to use this as a platform for a direct discussion.I have good contacts with both the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations to the OSCE PA, and I will also continue to engage with them.

The Minsk Group cannot impose any solution on any party, the sides must agree. The solution will therefore have to be a compromise, but it is clear that a peaceful solution is the only viable way forward.The OSCE PA met with the Co-chairs last Autumn; they addressed the Assembly’s fall meetings and answered questions from the floor.This was a very important exchange. In 2014 the OSCE PA Annual Session will be held in Baku, which will further increase parliamentary emphasis on the conflict and its consequences.

I think Turkey needs to be involved in a meaningful way in the talks to see if their participation can help the sides make progress towards peace.In several cases in this region and elsewhere we have seen sports play a major role in triggering diplomatic dialogue and getting countries to see past their differences. In this summer of the Olympics officials on the sides should also consider sport diplomacy as a creative way to get negotiations unstuck.

How can a country which openly declares that in this conflict they support one of the sides, Azerbaijan, can play any positive role in negotiations?

I would not change the format of the Minsk Process at this stage. However, in order to find a peaceful solution with open borders, where economic development can take place, Turkey needs to be part of the process. The rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey that happened some years ago was a positive step. It is regretful that the ratification process was stopped.

In your opinion, what role can parliamentary diplomacy play in the process of the solution of the conflict? Do you consider the probability of organizing meetings of the parliamentarians and civil society representatives of the sides of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Intergovernmental diplomacy is number one, but parliamentary diplomacy is important.

When we have contact between parliaments we have contact between peoples. In that respect our work is fundamental for intergovernmental diplomacy. First and foremost, we must continue tosupport the OSCE Minsk Group and its engagement with the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to negotiate a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict.

At some point in the process, a solution will have to be presented to the populations of the two countries, and parliamentarians provide a direct link between the political system and the voters they represent.Parliamentarians have a responsibility to communicate political decisions to the people and to promote peace talks. In this way, Members of Parliament can help pave the way for a solution and then promote its implementation.Parliamentary diplomacy develops ideas for a solution and can help prepare the public for peace.This is important.

What is the role of Nagorno-Karabakh as a party to the conflict in the process of settlement? Should it become a party in the negotiations?

Earlier in the process, the format of the Minsk Group negotiations was established, and I think it would be a mistake to try and change this now. However, dialogue with the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and representatives of the Azerbaijani population who fled is very important. As parliamentarians, we can certainly talk to all interested parties involved, and this is where the parliamentary dimension can again make a difference.

Lately the OSCE mediators have proposed to establish the mechanism of investigations of the incidents on the Line of Contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. The latter has unilaterally and periodically rejected that propositions while all other parties were for it. How do you assess this approach? Don’t you think that the international community should directly put pressure on Azerbaijan to put the end to border violence?

The recent increase in tension and tragic incidents along the line of contact is of great concern to the OSCE.It shows that the conflict is far from frozen, and that the status quo cannot be upheld.We need to shake things up.Both Armenia and Azerbaijan need a solution.I support the proposal to establish an investigation mechanism which could help establish the truth and build confidence.Pressure is being applied for this to happen, and this must continue.Another important step would be to withdraw snipers.

Do you plan to visit the South Caucasus and if, yes, could you tell us approximately when?

I have been to the region five times since 2008 and I look forward to returning to the South Caucasus in my capacity as President of the OSCE PA.Having only been in office less than a week, it is too early to announce the timing of such a trip, but as the OSCE work in this region is a priority for me, I anticipate making such a visit in the coming year.

Interview by Armen Ghazaryan